Spot a Terrapin, Send in the Data

There’s a mystery in the marshes of Louisiana worthy of any detective. Where are the diamondback terrapin turtles and how many are there? Louisiana Sea Grant (LSG) is spearheading an effort to solve that puzzle with the public’s help.

Terrapins are native to the brackish coastal waters of the Gulf, East Coast and Bermuda. They’re easily recognizable by their black-spotted skin and the spiral-like patterns on their shells. Although they can live up to 40 years in captivity, scientists believe they live only about 25 years in the wild.

Found as far north as Cape Cod, Mass., and as far west as Corpus Christi, Tx., how many terrapins live in Louisiana – as well as where they live – is essentially unknown. “Generally speaking, we have no idea where they are or how many,” said Julie Lively, LSG executive director.

We know terrapins are in Louisiana waters. A three-year study more than a decade ago found 490 terrapins at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in Cameron Parish. One hundred and twelve terrapins also have been spotted and their locations documented across the state on the community science platform iNaturalist.

“Knowing where they exist will help researchers study them and state officials manage them,” said Lively. “It also will help crab fishers maintain their sustainable seafood certification status – making Louisiana blue crab more desirable to consumers.”

This is where the public can assist. Boaters, kayakers, fishermen, anyone coming across a diamondback terrapin is asked to take a photo with their phone while in the iNaturalist app that can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. Clear photos are needed, as well as the date the terrapin was observed. The turtle’s location also is submitted in the app with the photo.

Terrapin sitings can be found on the iNaturalist Pin the Terrapin website at www.inaturalist.org/projects/pin-the-terrapin. A QR code on a Pin the Terrapin sticker also takes visitors to the website.

“Submissions we receive will help solve the decades old riddle of where are Louisiana’s terrapins,” said Lively.

For more information about the project, contact Merritt Walker at mmccall@lsu.edu.